Conditions InDepth: Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating. They also occur with feelings of distress or excessive concern about body shape or weight. The main types of eating disorders are
anorexia nervosa,
bulimia nervosa, and
binge eating disorder.

Eating disorders often develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but may also start during childhood or later in adulthood. Females are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder.

Eating disorders frequently occur with other psychiatric conditions, such as
depression,
substance abuse, and
anxiety disorders. In addition, people with eating disorders can experience a range of physical health complications. While some of these are minor, others can cause serious heart conditions,
kidney failure, osteoporosis, metabolic abnormalities, and even death.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which you have a fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even if underweight. Because of this you become obsessed with dieting and exercise, which leads to excessive weight loss. You are generally considered anorexic when you do not maintain your body weight at or above 85% of your expected weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

If you have bulimia nervosa, you also feel overly concerned with your weight and body image. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder in which you compulsively eat large amounts of food. This is called binge-eating. Then, you use unhealthy means, such as vomiting or laxatives to rid your body of the food, or water pills to reduce your weight. You may also diet or engage in extreme amounts of exercise to use up calories taken in through binge-eating.

Binge Eating Disorder

If you have binge eating disorder, you eat excessive amounts of food within a short period of time, generally 2 hours. Episodes of binge eating are associated with other factors like feeling shame or disgust.

During an episode, you feel a lack of control over your eating. Since there is no purging involved, you may be overweight for your age and height.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Eating disorders: About more than food. National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml. Updated 2014. Accessed May 18, 2016.

Eating disorders in over 8s: management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence website. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg9/chapter/1-Guidance. Updated January 2004. Accessed May 18, 2016.